The speedboat captain has been arrested after 15 Indian tourists were killed when a speedboat carrying them capsized in Vietnam on Saturday. He has been booked for allegedly violating safety regulations.
According to media reports, the Indian tourists were channel partners or employees of Lava Mobile. They had travelled to Vietnam as part of a reward trip organised for the company’s top-performing distributors.
Several victims’ families said they first learnt about the tragedy through television news channels or phone calls from friends. The Indian Embassy and local authorities contacted them later. Many families are still waiting for the mortal remains of their loved ones to be brought back to India.
In the preliminary investigation, local authorities said the accident was caused by sudden bad weather and high waves. However, the investigation is still underway.
On Saturday, a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists capsized in Vietnam. The boat can be seen capsized in the picture.
Tourists trapped beneath overturned boat
According to the Indian Embassy, there were 36 people on board the boat — 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members. The boat was travelling from May Rut Island to another island when the weather suddenly worsened. Within seconds, strong waves caused the boat to overturn.
Survivors said the accident happened so quickly that no one had time to react. Those seated at the front managed to jump into the sea, but several passengers inside the cabin became trapped beneath the overturned boat and could not escape.
Local fisherman Ha Van Loc said he spotted the capsized boat with several people clinging to it, while others without life jackets were drifting in the sea. His team threw ropes to rescue the passengers and immediately alerted other rescue teams. The injured were later brought ashore on jet skis.
Survivors: More lives could have been saved with timely treatment
Nirmal Kumar, an Indian tourist who survived the accident, said the local rescue team arrived quickly, but the nearby island lacked adequate medical equipment and essential medicines.
According to Kumar, a doctor travelling with the group also said that more lives could have been saved if proper medicines and medical facilities had been available. He added that the Vietnam Air Force reached the spot about two to three hours later and began treating the injured.
Another survivor from Andhra Pradesh told PTI that the boat had travelled only 300–400 metres from the island when it overturned. Everyone was busy taking photographs when the accident occurred. “We were all crying out for help, but within moments, everything was over,” he said.
After the accident, some people tried to help by giving CPR.
Preparations underway to bring bodies back to India
Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai expressed grief over the tragedy and urged the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that the bodies of the 10 victims from the state are brought home at the earliest. He also sought the best possible treatment for those injured.
The Indian Embassy said that the mortal remains of all 15 victims have been transported to Ho Chi Minh City. Consular officials and the local administration are completing the required legal formalities there. Once the process is over, the bodies will be flown to India.
The Embassy and the Consulate General of India are in constant touch with the Vietnamese authorities. Officials have assured that the bodies will be repatriated as soon as possible and that every possible assistance will be provided to the affected families. Meanwhile, 15 injured survivors are preparing to return to India after being discharged from hospital, while one person continues to receive treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc.
Tourism services affected after the accident
Following the accident, several tourism companies have temporarily suspended speedboat services between Phu Quoc and nearby islands. May Rut Island is known for its crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches and diving spots, attracting a large number of tourists who travel there by speedboat.
More than 1.8 million foreign tourists visited Phu Quoc last year. However, Vietnam has witnessed several boating accidents in recent years, often linked to bad weather, flooding and poor maintenance of vessels.
